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Led by Arthritis Consumer Experts and the Arthritis Research Centre of Canada, the Arthritis Broadcast Network (ABN) is a multi-media platform for the arthritis community to share news, information and stories about living well with arthritis. The ABN is a key element of the National Arthritis Awareness Program.

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Research has shown that people in relationships in which they feel positive, connected, and comfortable sharing feelings may experience a reduction in their physical disability and pain, and fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety. Do you know how to make Valentine’s Day special for someone living with arthritis?

Below are some ways to impress your sweetheart:

Take the time to learn your partner’s disease. Learning about your partner’s disease will show that you care, understand and want to share their struggles and celebrate their accomplishments with them. You will also reduce the feelings of stress and frustration that sometimes come with explaining one’s arthritis to a friend or loved one.

Pace your Valentine’s Day activities. Pace yourself to conserve your energy. Look at what you can realistically do and ask your partner for their feedback on your Valentine’s Day plan(s). You will both feel more relaxed and controlled.

Ask others to help. Put certain tasks on hold or delegate others to complete the tasks for you while you take the night off with your loved one. If you have children or pets, ask a relative or friend if they can look after them for you.

Avoid long commute. There are health risks associated with activities that require you to be in the same position for long periods of time, such as getting stiff or swollen joints. If you must commute a long way, ensure the car seat is comfortable and to take short standing breaks every 15 minutes or so.

Avoid smoking and limit the amount of alcohol you drink before anticipated sexual activity. Both reduce sexual functioning. Furthermore, some of the medicines your doctor prescribes to relieve sore joints don’t mix well with alcohol – including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve), which carry a greater risk for stomach bleeding and ulcers when you drink. Taken with acetaminophen, methotrexate or leflunomide, alcohol can make you more susceptible to liver damage.

Start the night with a warm shower or bubble bath to warm up the joints, to help with sore muscles, and to relax.

Talk to your partner about what you like and don’t like, what hurts and what doesn’t hurt. You may find the honesty will enhance your relationship, and you will likely be more comfortable during sexual activity because of communicating what works for you. If you are finding these conversations difficult, you may benefit from seeing a sex therapist.

Today’s European League Against Rheumatism Annual Congress press conference profiled a study that looked at the connection between sexual dysfunction and rheumatoid arthritis. Below is a copy of the press release:

London, United Kingdom, 10 June 2016: The results of a study presented today at the European League Against Rheumatism Annual Congress (EULAR 2016) showed that sexual dysfunction is present in more than one-third of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who are still sexually active, both men and women. A variety of difficulties may affect RA patients, including lack of libido, painful intercourse, orgasmic dysfunction, premature ejaculation and a non-satisfactory sexual life.

A study in the Swedish Malmo Preventive Medicine Program (MPMP) found that men with low testosterone were more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis. The study participants included 33,000 people born between 1921 and 1949. As part of the study, the participants underwent a number of tests, filled out questionnaires, and provided blood samples.

In the study, low testosterone levels are observed in both men and women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Further study is required to determine whether low testosterone levels are to blame for the onset of RA, or it is RA that drops the levels of testosterone. Continue reading →

One of the main goals of the PRECISION project, showcased in July’s issue of JointHealth™ monthly, is to enable clients to lead a healthy life in the context of their chronic disease. Besides medical adherence, rheumatologists should also express concern about their patient’s sex life and ask, “How’s your sex life?”

In an interview with The Rheumatologist, Alex Shteynshlyuger, MD, a New York urologist, said that more than half of all rheumatoid arthritis patients have difficulties with sex and yet the topic gets little attention from rheumatologists.

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The information contained on the Arthritis Broadcast Network is not medical advice. This site offers evidence-based information and support to help you better understand your form of arthritis, as well as to help you talk to your own rheumatologist and family physician about your symptoms and general health. Always seek the expert advice of your rheumatologist or other health care professional before making changes or additions to your treatment plan.